doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Heavy loads in Lightweight L C Smith

Back in February, about the time of my knee replacement, I was invited on a Pheasant hunt in South Dakota in November. (Seemed like a good idea at the time) Had not considered that I would have to fly with my gun. Turns out the outfitter provides all the shells, 2 � inch 3 � dram 1 � oz. Rios with #6 shot. I am considering three options: 1. BPS 12 ga, which I can remove the stock and it will fit in Ziegel take down case. 2. 686 Beretta Black Onyx, (two triggers but weighs 8# or more.) 3. LC Smith, Ideal, straight grip, double trigger ejector gun choked I/C I/M. It is a lightweight model and only weighs 6 � pounds. The BPS, the most practical, the 686 a bit heavy, and the LC Smith should be just right. I doubt with a three bird limit I will shoot enough for recoil to be an issue since it has a thick orange red pad on it. (Silvers?) My question, will say a box or so of these shells be an issue for the gun?

Tyler,
I, like you would want to shoot the LC Smith. Sounds like a nice gun.

There is no way I'd shoot that load if it were mine.
Recoil on you may not be a problem. Recoil on the stock would be a real concern for me. 1-1/4oz @ 1250 or 1330 and 6.5lbs?

Is it mandatory that you use their shells? Can you contact the guide and suggest a substitute that you are comfortable with and explain the situation? Maybe it is the perfect occasion/excuse for another SXS.

When I had a 1921 LC Smith featherweight, it did not like over the counter target loads. I think I used Federals a couple of times, but it would hang up on them after firing making the gun difficult to open. If that is the only gun you decide to bring, just make sure it is alright with whatever loads you are going to use before you get out there. That gun was always fine with Polywads. Perhaps you could just ship him some low pressure loads purchased directly?

My 7 lb 30 inch 1 Frame GH Parker 7/8 oz at 1150 for clays most of the time. Little bit of hunting I do with it 1 oz 1150 feet. Lightest published Alliant 1 oz load. Extra 1/8 oz is noticeable but no problems. It's digested thousands of mild loads, heavy fast Rios, too heavy for my SxS guns.

Get RST to ship some reasonable loads directly to the outfitter.

Boats

I wouldn't use the LC - they like to crack behind the locks and IMHO you'd be inviting that with those loads. That, and I don't like recoil. If yours has a lot of drop to the stock, say 2 3/4 or 3" DAH, your nose or cheek will let you know in a hurry. All my SxS's have about 3" DAH and I only shoot 7/8oz or less. Good luck on your hunt.

+1

Since you have plenty of time before your hunt why not order some RST light loads and have RST ship them to your outfitters address?

If it is of help, I hunt pheasant in SD every year. Pretty much all you can buy at Cabelas is geared to heavy fast loads like your outfitter is providing. Last year I shot Herter's 1 ounce of 6's at about 1100'/ second in a 16 gauge, mod & full and found it was deadly on them. Don't fall for the hype. If you miss the bird an extra 1/4 ounce won't help.

builder had a good idea. You also have time to let a good gun smith that knows L.C. Smiths to glas-bed the stock.

You can bet your Dixie ass they will- L.C. Smiths, whether R framed or FW, pre-1913 or post 1913 mfg. go with heavy loads that belong in a Model 12 Winchester like STP goes with George Dickel. Ask any good LC Smith gunsmith, like my friend Buck Hamlin, what he thinks- the heavy recoil pad on your Smith may save your shoulder, but not the fragile wood inlettd into the locks and tang areas. Bad idea, Suh!!